Naughty Boys

Childish pranks have been portrayed many times in movies. Funny actions of energetic boys entertain the general audience in an innocent way. However, in our case, one of the boys from an O.Henry’s short story is not a harmless little character. Quite the contrary. Nevertheless, even his rather dangerous activities have made us smile.

In a Soviet comedy «Деловые люди» (Business People, directed by Leonid Gaidai, produced by Mosfilm Studios, 1962), based on O.Henry’s masterpieces, the last part is entitled «Вождь краснокожих» (The Ransom of Red Chief), where the iconically mischievous boy throws a stone at an ill-doomed kidnapper. Another Soviet comedy – legendary «Бриллиантовая рука» (The Diamond Arm, directed by Leonid Gaidai, produced by Mosfilm Studios, 1969) – contains a scene, where a little boy fires with a toy pistol an ice-cream bullet at a swindler. Finally, in a Hollywood stock exchange epic – Wall Street (directed by Oliver Stone, produced by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, 1987) – a greedy millionaire’s male offspring throws a berry at a party guest – an unscrupulous lawyer.

The boys maybe naughty, but their antagonists are definitely on the darker side of the life! At least, the little hooligans have brought them partially to justice.